Meanwhile, Back in the Trenches: Flagler Beach Firefighter Saves Kitten From Deep In a 300-Foot Drain

If the Flagler Beach City Commission wants to highlight something good about what’s left of its fire department, it might want to keep in mind firefighter Morgan Walden when it next hands out a batch of commendations.

Tuesday evening, Walden—one of three firefighters who answered a distress call, for a kitten, at the Flagler Beach Publix on State Road 100—crawled half-way into a narrow, suffocating, 300-foot stormwater drain and rescued an 8-week-old kitten that had been howling in there loud enough for a Publix customer to hear it.

According to Ashley Brumfield, a member of Publix’s customer service staff, a customer walking to the store around 6 p.m. from the road in back of it heard the kitten “howling in the drain,” and informed store staff. The fire department was dispatched, with firefighters Walden, Dusty Snyder and Jeremy Macklefresh responding. (The three firefighters had been at the department until 8 a.m. Wednesday, but could not yet be reached today.)

The cat, a male, was audibly scared, and deep inside the drain when Snyder positioned himself at one end of the pipe and Macklefresh at the other as Walden tried to go in after the kitten.

“She got down there with full gear and she realized she couldn’t fit,” Brumfield said, so she had to take off her oxygen tank, though Snyder recommended against it. Since the cat was breathing enough to howl, Walden figured there’d be enough air inside for both of them. “She was down there at least half an hour,” Brumfield said.

The cat was terrorized, likely having had little contact with humans before: it was feisty even as Walden brought it out, making full use of its young claws and teeth as Snyder then one of Publix’s employees took it up. Safari Rescue’s Ruth Rupprecht was at the scene, examined the cat and estimated the age. Firefighters provided it with milk and placed it in a box.

“One of our employees decided he wanted to adopt him,” Brumfield said. He named the cat Morgan.

For the fire department, the kitten rescue was a welcome contrast with the pummeling the department has been taking in recent weeks and months, some of it because of its personnel’s missteps, some of it because of careless decisions by the city administration and the city commission’s remarkably high tolerance for blunders and misdemeanors.

Morgan Walden could not make it into the drain with her apparatus. (Ashley Brumfield)

Dusty Snyder keeping in contact with Walden as she crawled in. (Ashley Brumfield)

48 Responses for “Meanwhile, Back in the Trenches: Flagler Beach Firefighter Saves Kitten From Deep In a 300-Foot Drain”

Well, what can ya say. Morgan went against her superior when Mr. Snyder said do not take off your oxygen supply. What if you got stuck over your 30 minutes? Whos fault would that have been? Will she be reprimanded for going against the charge person? Good thing he doesn’t have to call her parents and say she suffocated rescuing a kitten and going against my orders/ Right? Here again, whos in charge and what shall happen when you publish someone ignored orders to do what she wanted? Another black mark on someone trying to do something good, but ignoring a superior to do it. Mr Campbell, your turn?

Great job! But here is the problem, the crew went above and beyond. They did what they thought they should do. And the city should be ashamed of themselves for putting these fine young men and women a position to have to make decisions they are not qualified to make. This was a permit required confined space rescue. 70% of victims of confined space emergencies are untrained rescuers. OSHA 1910.146 is the standard for confined space entry. Everything worked out great and everyone went home, I thank god for that, but it could have turned out much different. For the sake of these young men and women, who just want to do a good job, I hope this trainwreck of a city gives them the proper leadership they deserve. 10 years is not enough to run a department.

That being said, I find it disheartening that a firefighter felt it was safe to enter what is considered a confined space in what is possibly an oxygen deprived atmosphere without an SCBA. This is a highly dangerous move and one done against the “recommendation” of her “shift leader”. In any other fire department, going against he “advice” or orders of your “supervisor” is insubordination; period. What would have happened if she went down and lost consciousness?

Again, very “feel good” story but it overcasts the very big safety concerns that should be addressed; mainly due to lack of trained leadership.

Great job to those involved! However, confined space rescue is a technical rescue condition that requires state certification! The 40 hour class can be taken during Volunteer Week at the Florida State Fire College at no cost to volunteer firefighters. Firefighter Walden had no idea how much oxygen was available at the end of that drain pipe. A small kitten requires much less oxygen than a human being. If you cannot fit in the confined space with SCBA, you can always push it in front of you so that you have something if needed.

This just goes to prove the lack of training and experience that is the Flagler Beach Fire Department.

If any cat had to get stuck in any drain pipe it got lucky to get stuck at the Flagler beach Publix Because Cindy Morgan the customer service Manager would stop at no end to make sure it got rescued. Cindy is a animal lover and has the biggest heart when it comes to any animal in need.. Great job Cindy!!!!

is their really that many cold hearted people out their, if it don’t benafit you.who cares.if that was a child ,would thay say it’s dangers, i’m so ashamed of you people, cats,dogs,pigs, cows ,chickens, been around a lot longer than us, help them means you have a heart people,let them die,means you only think of your selfs,and cold hearted .

There are three levels of con-space training, awareness, operations and tech. The last two you can enter a space under certin conditions. You must have the proper training, and you must have the proper equipment. FL-LTRT 312 a Florida USAR (urban search and rescue) team is located right here in Flagler County and has the equipment and the training, they have also done rescues like this before.

Nobody in any of the threads said let the kitten die, Oh wait just you. We are only pointing out the lack of better knowledge, and unsafe acts. If it was a child or animal I would have followed different guidelines, those same guidelines and training she should have gotten in her rookie school. Pride, redemption or whatever you want to call it should have been handled differently, enough said.

YES! Regardless of who was trapped down there, a confined space rescue is a confined space rescue. Proper procedures and protocols have been in place for this type of operation to ensure everyone goes home, INCLUDING THE TRAPPED VICTIM. These three firefighters’ decision to perform this rescue would be the same as me picking up two hitchhikers along SR100 en route to a house fire, giving them turnout gear, SCBA, a set of irons, and a hand line……and asking them to perform a primary search for possible victims inside after arriving on scene.

LACK OF TRAINING, LACK OF EXPERIENCE, and JUST GO-WITH-IT WHO CARES attitudes are why so many firefighters die each year. IF YOU KNOW YOU CANNOT PERFORM THE TASK DUE TO LACK OF TRAINING……..DON’T DO IT! Plain and simple.

First and foremost i’m not arm chair quarter backing, and i’m no lawyer. But lets look at this overall, how many OSHA, NFPA standards and regulations were violated? This was a true confined space incident, and should have been handled that way. Based on what im reading as to what she stated and her reasoning just go’s to show the level of training or lack of, and or knoweldge she dosent have. She went against her supervisors advise, entered an hazardous enviroment, without any safety line or escape air attached to her. She not only put herself in danger neverless her crew, and any other rescuer aswell. With continued lack of proper and experianced leadership ongoing in this department, someone is going to get hurt or worse be killed. Is the city ready for a lawsuit? Real leadership is needed. Although nobody got hurt, snd the kitten was saved, but in a real department she would have been disciplined. Whats next? And at what expense?
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Well careerfirefighter the article did not quote firefighter Walden. So really who is to say that she disregarded her superiors orders? Both of these firefighters did a great job and should keep up the good work.

Below is the thread, either way she acted without clear direct orders or as we say on passion, or reckless disregard to her supervisors advice. It’s what is called in the Fire service “FREE LANCING” something that rookies with very little on the job training or “REAL” experience alike make all the time, usually with a much different outcome then this one.

“She got down there with full gear and she realized she couldn’t fit,” Brumfield said, so she had to take off her oxygen tank, though Snyder recommended against it. Since the cat was breathing enough to howl, Walden figured there’d be enough air inside for both of them. “She was down there at least half an hour,” Brumfield said.

I could not agree more CareerFirefighter. The fact that there was a trained and certified rescue team right here in Flagler County that could have been notified to perform this rescue, and the Flagler Beach Fire Department ignored that fact and took it upon themselves to go ahead with this rescue, just proves my point as to the lack of training and leadership within this department. If their current training standards are anything at all similar to what they were back in 2002 when I was a member of this department, God help the residents of Flagler Beach!

NFPA and OSHA standards and regulations are there for a reason! YOU DO NOT IGNORE THEM! NFPA 101 is the standard for life safety. It basically states that if the risk is too dangerous and places extreme risk on the lives of fire department personnel involved, you do not perform the rescue. Firefighter safety is the first and foremost priority on the fireground…PERIOD! Entering a confined space (technically a HOT ZONE), not only without certification…but without SCBA……is a violation of almost every safety code in place! With any confined space rescue operation, a SAFETY OFFICER needs to be in place in addition to the Incident Commander to ensure the operation is running safely in accordance with NFPA and OSHA guidelines. If Firefighter Walden had become stuck or been injured during this rescue, things would have become too much for this crew to handle. Attention would have been shifted from rescuing the kitten, to rescuing a fellow firefighter in trouble.

Having been a member of multiple fire departments over the past 17 years (which includes several major departments in several states), I can assure you that this entire crew would have been disciplined upon returning to the station simply for violating NFPA 101. I am pretty sure that the Flagler Beach Fire Department does not have any written policies with regards to confined space rescue operations. I was glancing at my copy of the FBFD SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures), and saw NOTHING on CSR or any other type of technical rescue. My copy (from 2001) does not even have any operation guidelines for a beach or ocean rescue! All seriousness aside, without proper written polices and procedures, this city and this department are just asking for lawsuits from victims’ families when they attempt rescue techniques for which they are not trained or qualified to do.

Great job by those involved, and I am glad the kitten is safe…….but next time call in those who are properly trained before someone gets seriously hurt or killed!

Oxygen deprived? Lol it was a storm drain that was bone dry not a sewer drain. She had a clear exit path AND was utilizing the gas meter which was reading 21% Oxygen. Great Job firefighters with no experience who “conducted a technical rescue” lol it’s easy to quarterback when you don’t have Florida fire certs or don’t work for a dept anymore..

@ 26
I’m a little disappointed in you, with what you claim you have 26 years experience. I ask what school you got your certification from. Better yet where have you worked? Obliviously you slept through any part of confined space training classes, or basic rookie school, because your comment is coming from someone IMO lacks basic skills and fire service training or experience. Every incident below grade, in a space that you cannot enter with your full PPE is considered a permitted entry in accordance with OSHA 1910.146. Nowhere in the article is it indicating a gas monitor was utilized. Correct procedures would be you set-up and vent fan electric, obtain an escape pack, connected to an NFPA approved air supply system, utilize your Gas monitor, and have a safety line attached, and have a back-up crew ready and available. Of which it appears didn’t happen. I only pointing out that a combined department experience of less the 20 yr’s could have turned tragically wrong. Is this what we the citizens are paying for???? There needs to be some accountability before something more serious happens. FREE LANCING KILLS not only the victim, but his rescuer, and potentially other responders. And yes I’m also USAR Tech certified in all the disciplines, and if I was on that scene whether it was in the city or county she wouldn’t have entered that drain or confined space without proper PPE and back-up, as “I WILL NOT BE HELD LIABLE “or have my certifications or career pulled for knowing allowing an unsafe act to be performed. I’ve worked too hard to obtain my certifications. Just be glad nothing happened “THIS TIME” and who’s to say another lack of experience FF is knowingly going to disregard a direct order and enter another IDLH environment.

Awesome job to everyone involved! The city commissioners and mr.campbell should be proud of them All you negative people make me sick to my stomach!!! Your really going to throw in their confined space certs and all the BS and her taking her oxygen tank off to go in? Come on its a storm drain and she was going against the person Incharge he said he recommended her not to take it off he never said no don’t take it off!! They put their lives on the line day to day and they are grown men and women who can make their own decisions on whether or not they think it’s safe to go in and rescue! As a member of a fire dept I woulda done the same exact thing even not having a 40hr confined space cert, and really FB Insider “big safety concerns” for your information as a firefighter you tell me is going into a house fire a big safety issue to? Wait that’s right that’s what a firefighters job is, their job isn’t safe their job is dangerouse no matter what and they do whatever it takes to get the job done people need to be more appreciative of not only firefighters but anyone who puts their lives on the line day to day people need to quit bringing down the Flagler Beach fire dept. The city manager and commissioners should be proud of the men and women in that department! Awesome job again to the people involved and good artical flaglerlive!

With the job of a firefighter being dangerous, the first thing you are taught when you go through the fire academy is NFPA 101 – Firefighter Safety. It basically outlines that if you are not trained or certified to perform a task, you don’t do it for your own safety. Confined Space Rescue is a Technical Rescue Operation, and should only be performed by those fully trained and certified in Confined Space Rescue. These crews have special trucks and equipment that is designed specifically for Confined Space Rescue operations. To my knowledge, no safety equipment was used in this rescue operation at all! FIREFIGHTER WALDEN REMOVED HER SCBA……which is the first mistake in any confined space rescue operation. The trapped victim may be deprived of oxygen while awaiting rescue, and the firefighter’s SCBA could mean the difference between a rescue mission and a recovery mission.

I have taught technical rescue operations (confined space, high-angle rope rescue, water rescue) in my career and can tell you that anyone who removed their SCBA and left it behind would receive an automatic FAIL for the entire class for violating NFPA 101. There is absolutely no excuse for this lapse in judgement…….only inexperience and lack of proper training / good judgement. The apparent Incident Commander advised her not to remove her SCBA. As a retired Lieutenant in the fire service, I know first hand that an IC advising a subordinate against making a decision is the same as giving them an order. The risk involved is not always prudent to allowing rescue operations to proceed. I can understand how some of you who have no experience in the fire service will have difficulty comprehending that we occasionally have to place our own safety above the rescue of a victim. Those with military experience will agree with me. Sometimes, you just have to make the correct TECHNICAL action over the correct MORAL action.

A firefighter who becomes trapped themselves during a rescue mission provides ONE thing to the outcome of the rescue mission. A SECOND VICTIM THAT MUST BE RESCUED. Fire & Rescue personnel now must shift gears and place the rescue of the trapped firefighter as priority over the rescue of the original victim, as the trapped firefighter will normally be obstructing the flow of oxygen to the original victim. This is how firefighters die in the line of duty. They attempt rescues which they have no idea how to perform.

I truly wish these three would consider taking the Confined Space, Farmedic, Rope Rescue, HazMat Technician, and other technical rescue / technical operations courses offered at the Florida Sate Fire College. After passing the courses and receiving their certifications, maybe then they could form the Flagler Beach Fire Department Technical Rescue Team. Maybe then the FBFD would actually have something she a positive light on their department, rather than all of this inexperience for which they have come to be known for.

You notice that L before TRT. That means light TRT. Please try and compare Flagler County USAR to Volusia or a real county. It’s going to be an embarrassing moment for you. There’s probably a reason your USAR commander left for another dept. oh yeah and I’m a tech too so don’t try to bs me the “guidelines”. Morgan you did just fine! We will gladly take you on board over here.

Wow you haters need a life. Good work guys and girls. You have to ignore the people who want to run scenes from their home computer. Oh and thank you flaglerlive for posting a “good” story, unfortunately you have people who think they are all mighty experienced and so on.

To Tulip — I don’t want to be a hater and a good warm and fuzzy story would be great to read and even embrace, but I’m more inclined to believe this was merely an attempt to put the spin on a department that’s been beat and bruised — not to mention take the heat off (no pun intended) the manager and commissioners who have to be rethinking their comments, actions and careers.

I am very thankful that both the kitten and the firefighters came out unscathed; but the last I read was Mr. Campbell was going to be handling the administrative duties of the fire department. And I seem to recall a FlaglerLive headline about a year ago regarding the then Chief facing termination for insubordination. So what did Ms Walden do? Ignore the recommendations or directives of her supervisor! Isn’t that insubordination and therefore grounds for termination? Or why is it now ok to go against the “advice” of a supervisor? As many of the career firefighters have written in above, there are protocols, certifications and safety measures in place for specific reasons. This time it turned out ok; but what if it hadn’t. Who then would be at fault?

My comments are not ment to bash or put down anyone. We are on track to have one of the deadliest years in fire service history. We must not let our emotion or pride cloud our judgment on the fireground. Those of you who don’t know, and by the posts there are a few, are doing a GREAT disservice to the situation. I have been to enough firefighter funerals, I don’t want to go to any more. I don’t care what the shirt says, we’re all in this together. FBFD has some great people who just require some direction. The City owes them that!

I agree, just trying to point that out. Some of the comments appear to be strictly from emotion, or lack of knowledge of proper basic firefighting skills. They got lucky and nothing happened. It clearly states Snyder suggested not to do it, and she did it anyways. That’s called in my book FREE LANCING. I agree the city shouldn’t put these people in the position there in, and in turn the Firefighters should be saying the same thing. Pride, Lack of Knowledge, or Lack of Leadership, & communication, lead to Firefighter deaths, something that very much could happen if it’s not addressed on the city’s side real soon.

I totally agree with you 25 years on the job! My comments come from over 17 years of experience in the fire service. And you are right that the City of Flagler Beach owes them proper training and direction. For those of us who actually know what we are talking about, having been in similar situations ourselves, it is hard to listen to people who are condemning our comments on here as to scene safety.

If an Engine Company arrives on the scene of a structure fire, and the building is at risk of collapse, NOBODY enters the building……regardless of how many people might be trapped inside. As an incident commander or shift commander, you actually have to make that decision to let people burn to death. I have had to make that decision several times, and it is not an easy one to make. Even harder, is the decision to NOT rescue a firefighter who has become trapped inside due to safety protocols. Nobody agrees with these protocols in the heat of the moment when adrenaline is flowing faster than the water through the hand lines……..but we all know we have to follow them. These same policies fall true especially for confined space rescue. It does not matter what a gas meter is reading, or if the storm drain was bone dry. Concrete is porous, meaning underground water or gases can seep through the pipe. I just guess that the many years of training and experience that some of us have mean nothing to those who have no idea what they are talking about!

IT is going to take a death or A BIG LAWSUIT from lost of life or property before flagler beach leader wake up . and Bruce Campbell is going to be the blame boy!!!!!! Its his watch .You realy cant make this up!!!

My mama always said “If you lie with dogs you will end up with fleas”. Sounds to me like there are some bitter old dogs out there with a lot of fleas…..Who if they had been doing their jobs the correct way in the first place wouldn’t be in the position they are in now!!!! With that said it takes men and women of great moral character and proper up bringing, who display honor, courage and the HEART of a lion to do what’s being done!!! It takes something like this to really see what people are made of….I’m very proud of these young men and women for standing up for what’s right!!!! And to you FLEA COVER DIRTY OLD DAWGS you might want to remember these fire fighters have plenty of family who have taught them to be the people they have become and will always be by there side no matter what!!!! Maybe you should show some of the integrity that these young men and women have shown!!!! Love u guys keep up the good HONEST work and stay safe :)

It’s not bashing it’s educating, you put an untrained person without the proper equiptment, in a poorly ventilated space. Without proper ventilation your sucking up all the oxygen causing hypoxia and possibly make the rescuer pass out, what then? Was there a system in place to reacue her? By the time a real TRT personal arrived on scene someone could have been seriously injuried. There is no shame in calling for aid and learning from trained personel with proper equiptment. And people want to say good job, keep giving them kudos until someone gets hurt.

She is a hero in my book! Perhaps she needs some counseling from her supervisor so she will not do something later that gets her hurt but this story is so heartwarming. What an amazing young lady who put her life on the line to save that cat. Flagler Beach may reprimand her all they want but they should also be proud. This is the best news story to come from that department in a long time. My hat is off to you Morgan and I am glad you saved that cat. Hope you have a long and successful career.

A kitten and a human life are not the same. Risking your life to rescue someone is one thing. Risking it for an animal is another. What if this had turned out differently and she had been killed or seriously hurt. The city needs to do a better job educating and training their people. Each fd has access to specially trained teams for the out of the ordinary rescues. I’m not saying don’t rescue the cat, I’m just saying don’t take unnessassary risks doing it. We as firefighters put our lives on the line every time we report to work and we accept that. But save the big risks for the big rewards.

@ Citizen — I have the utmost respect for firefighters, especially seeing as how I am a retired Fire Lieutenant and Instructor myself. The comments from me and a few other well-seasoned firefighters are simply a way of educating the public and the Flagler Beach Fire Department to ensure that this type of action does not happen again! Most likely everyone on here that is commenting on and reading this article have the utmost respect for firefighters. However, when a firefighter or group of firefighters ignore sound judgement and proceed in their actions despite not having any technical rescue training….it is rather difficult to have respect for a department that has ZERO leadership, ZERO professionalism, and ZERO accountability.

Had this been a human being who was trapped and not a kitten…….proceeding on this rescue operation without proper training and certification could have possibly led to the death of the victim (especially since Firefighter Walden removed her SCBA and left it behind! Had this human victim died as a result of hesitation or complete disregard of federal guidelines and regulations due to lack of training……the City of Flagler Beach, Flagler Beach Fire Department, and / or specific members of the department who were involved with this call, could have been facing a major wrongful death lawsuit brought on by family of the vittim.

For all of the people with questions about certs and safety you are correct, however I believe you will be hard pressed to find many people who serve Flagler county that have the USAR certs for rescues like this….

Although you may be right. All it takes is a simple public records request from both the County, and the cities of Palm Coast, & Flagler Beach to confirm, deny, or dispel any of these comments or posts. You may be just surprised, of what you may or may not find in your request.

I am relatively new to the job, not as new as anyone from the FBFD, but new nonetheless. Flagler County has a Technical Rescue team, and has over 40 qualified personnel to perform this rescue safely, and efficiently, and atleast 6 of them on everyday able to repsond in a matter of minutes. Yes, this was a cat, and there was truly no inherent danger, but that’s the famous last thoughts of on average 100+ firefighter’s a year. Morgan did an excellent job, as did her crew, however as this article states whether accurate, or not the was clear insubordination, and that is never acceptable. Not bashing anyone, just trying to provide some facts to help everyone understand.

To “Thankful” above Flagler county has trained with Volusia and left their training early due to unsafe acts, and improper teaching methods, FYI TF-9 is no more, because of this. Also, bashing them is not very “brotherly” of you.